New Q Poll: Obama and Bill Nelson Face Challenges in 2012

Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 3, 2011 - 7:19am

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday morning showed that Florida will be in the frontlines in the 2012 political wars when both President Barak Obama and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson face challenges for re-election.

Obama won the approval of 47 percent of those surveyed but 49 percent of Floridians disapproved of his performance. He could face serious challenges in carrying Florida come 2012the poll found only 45 percent want to see a second Obama term while 48 percent did not want to give the president four more years. Obama carried 40 percent against a nameless Republican foe who pulled 42 percent.

Nelson and newly inaugurated Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio earned solid markswith Nelson garnering 45 percent approval and 21 percent disapproval and Rubio winning 42 percent approval and 20 percent disapproval.

But Nelson could face challenges in 2012 when he seeks a third term. The poll found 43 percent thought Nelson deserved a third term while 33 percent wanted him out of office. Nelson led an unknown Republican by 5 points, 41 percent to 36 percent.

Sen. Bill Nelsons numbers are mixed, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Only one in five voters is unhappy with his job performance, which indicates he hasnt stirred up strong opposition. But history shows that when only 43 percent of voters say an incumbent deserves another term, that incumbent sometimes doesnt get another term.

Brown pointed to how Florida voters connected Nelson to Obama, noting that 46 percent of those surveyed believed Nelson and Obama had the same values with only 17 percent thinking otherwise.

Sen. Nelson is not in terrific shape but he is not in terrible shape either, said Brown. His fate may rest with how President Barack Obama does in 2012 as Florida voters see the two men similarly on the issues.

The poll of 1,160 registered voters was taken between January 25 and 31 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.

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